CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-3570 vs Intel Core i5-4670
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-3570 is a standard quad-core desktop processor launched in June 2012 as part of the Ivy Bridge family. Built on a 22 nm process, it features four physical cores and four threads, omitting Hyper-Threading. It operates at a base clock of 3.4 GHz and can turbo boost up to 3.8 GHz. With a 77 W TDP, it strikes a balance between power consumption and performance. It includes 6 MB of L3 cache and integrates Intel HD 2500 graphics. The i5-3570 was a highly popular choice for mid-range gaming rigs and productivity desktops during its era, offering excellent price-to-performance value. While its multiplier is locked, it supports PCIe 3.0 and dual-channel DDR3 memory. Though now end-of-life, it remains a capable chip for basic legacy computing, retro gaming, and as a drop-in upgrade for older LGA 1155 systems.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles office apps fine, but struggles with heavy modern web scripts.
The fastest locked Haswell i5 at launch, with 3.8 GHz turbo benefiting bursty office and development workloads.
Gaming
Great for games from 2012-2015, but bottlenecks modern GPUs heavily.
The 3.8 GHz turbo provides the best single-threaded performance among launch Haswell i5s, helping in older games, but four threads remain a hard limit for modern titles.
Virtualization
Basic VM capability, but limited by 4 threads.
vPro and VT-d features are excellent for IT management, but four threads limit practical virtualization workloads.
Efficiency
Good for 2012, but outdated by modern standards.
84W TDP is the standard for the Haswell i5 lineup; the higher clocks do not come with a power penalty thanks to good binning.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- Unsuitable for modern AI workloads
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- AVX2 and FMA3 available for basic vector operations
- DDR3 bandwidth constrains any AI inference workload
- Not suitable for local AI applications
Content Creation
Gaming
- Requires a dedicated GPU
- Single-core performance is too low for modern AAA titles
- PCIe 3.0 support helps with GPU compatibility
- 3.8 GHz turbo is the fastest among launch locked Haswell i5s
- Good for eSports and older AAA titles with a dedicated GPU
- Bottlenecks modern mid-range GPUs in CPU-intensive titles
- No Hyper-Threading limits 1% low frame rates
- Best paired with GTX 1060 or RX 580 class GPUs
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- True 4 physical cores
- Supports PCIe 3.0
- Low price on used market
- Good for legacy system repairs
Cons
- Obsolete 22nm process
- Locked multiplier
- Weak HD 2500 integrated graphics
- Uses DDR3 memory
Pros
- Fastest locked Haswell i5 at launch with 3.8 GHz turbo
- vPro technology for enterprise IT management
- TXT and TSX for security and transactional memory
- Full instruction set including BMI1/BMI2 and F16C
- Strong single-threaded performance for its era
Cons
- vPro features unnecessary for most home users
- More expensive than i5-4570 with negligible gaming performance difference
- Locked multiplier prevents overclocking
- 84W TDP is inefficient by modern standards
- DDR3 memory platform is obsolete
- Quickly superseded by Devils Canyon i5-4690
- TSX disabled on C0 stepping via microcode errata
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-3570
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Desktop
- AMD FX-6100Rival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3550Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-3450Rival
Desktop
- AMD A10-5800KRival
Desktop
Vastly superior modern quad-core with hyper-threading.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
Excellent value used hex-core.
Slightly faster Haswell alternative for the same socket.
Compare head-to-headCheaper Sandy Bridge alternative if overclocking is desired.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 4100Alt
Budget modern alternative.
Intel Core i5-4670
- AMD FX-8350Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD FX-6300Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-3570Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570Rival
Mid-Range Desktop
- AMD A10-6800KRival
APU Desktop
Devils Canyon refresh with improved thermal interface and slightly higher clocks on the same platform.
Compare head-to-headUnlocked multiplier for overclocking if you need more performance from the same generation.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
Six cores and twelve threads on a modern AM4 platform with DDR4 at similar used-market pricing.
- Intel Core i5-12400FAlt
Modern six-core with twelve threads that dramatically outperforms the i5-4670 at lower power.
Skylake successor with DDR4 support, better efficiency, and a newer platform for similar cost.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A legendary processor for its time that still handles basic tasks, but is completely outclassed by modern budget CPUs.
Best for: The Core i5-3570 is obsolete and should not be considered for a new build. However, if you are repairing or upgrading an older LGA 1155 system, it is an excellent, cheap drop-in part. It still handles basic web browsing and document editing adequately, provided you use lightweight software and an SSD. For retro gaming, when paired with a dedicated GPU from the same era (like a GTX 660 or 750 Ti), it can run games from the early 2010s flawlessly. It is also a solid choice for a basic home server. Do not spend much money on this chip, as modern budget processors offer vastly superior performance-per-watt. If you already have the motherboard, it's a great salvage build; otherwise, look elsewhere.
Read the full reviewThe fastest locked Haswell i5 at launch with unique vPro and TXT enterprise features. A strong performer in its day, but quickly superseded by Devils Canyon and rendered obsolete by modern budget CPUs.
Best for: Repairing an enterprise desktop system that requires vPro features on LGA 1150
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-3570 or Intel Core i5-4670?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-4670 comes out ahead with a score of 7.4/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-3570 or Intel Core i5-4670?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-4670 leads with a gaming performance score of 52/100 among Intel Core i5-3570 and Intel Core i5-4670.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-3570 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-3570 (77 W), Intel Core i5-4670 (84 W).
Do Intel Core i5-3570 and Intel Core i5-4670 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-3570: Intel Socket 1155 (LGA1155), Intel Core i5-4670: LGA 1150), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-3570 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-3570 (6,200), Intel Core i5-4670 (4,620). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.